A Movement Born of Courage
The Electrical Workers Minority Caucus has spent half a century making the IBEW stronger by making it more inclusive — and St. Louis has been part of that story from the very beginning.
The Conscience of the IBEW
The EWMC was born in 1974 at the IBEW's 30th International Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. When members of color prepared to picket the convention over the lack of minority representation in union leadership, International leaders chose to listen rather than look away — a single conversation that sparked a movement.
From that meeting grew an organization devoted to fairness, inclusion, and opportunity for every worker in the electrical industry. Today the EWMC spans 44 chapters across the United States and Canada, still guided by a simple promise.
Rooted Where It All Began
St. Louis holds a special place in this history — it is the birthplace of the IBEW, founded here in 1891 and home to Local 1. The Greater St. Louis Chapter carries that legacy forward, uniting members from IBEW Locals 1, 2, 4, 309, 1439, and 1455 under one banner.
Our own officers come from different local unions across the region — solidarity in action. Together we develop leaders, mentor members so hard-won knowledge is never lost, and show up for our community day after day.
